Technical Assistant for Asia Regional Finance Officer (TA)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is a US – based humanitarian organization working in more than 80 countries around the world to assist people victims of disasters, people in need and the disadvantaged regardless of race, belief or nationality. CRS Asia Region is NOW HIRING for a TECHNICAL ASSISTANT for ASIA REGIONAL FINANCE OFFIER (TA) to be based in Jakarta-Indonesia. This position will report to Asia Regional Finane Officer (RFO) in Jakarta-Indonesia.

Type of Employment: Fixed Term

Key Working Relationship: CRS Headquarters Overseas Finance, Finance Managers of Country programs in Asia in minimum.

Job Summary

Key responsibilities of the Technical Assistant (TA) are to maintain the regional and outreach databases, prepare month- and year-end closure, assist regional staff in understanding financial information; track usage of the regional reserve, designated funds, and other regional funds; prepare quarterly spending reports of the Country Programs, budget comparison, aging and cost allocation reports for the regional and outreach programs. In summary, the TA assists RFO in providing the adequate support to Country Programs.

Specific Responsibilities

Database Management and Month End Reporting to HQ:

• Maintain Regional (883 and 884) databases. Prepare, enter and file Sun Systems vouchers. Undertake corrections to the database as required. Explain outstanding issues in databases and propose solutions, in coordination with CP finance staff if necessary.

• Manage Budget Maintenance for regional projects and outreach countries. Ensure timely budget entries into Sun Systems and update Budget Reconciliation Forms in a timely manner.

• Perform the month and year-end close and submit complete reports to RFO.

• Monitor employee and project holder advances charged to 883 and 884 databases.

• Prepare Aging Analysis Reports for regional and outreach countries.

• Support outreach countries in reviewing weekly or monthly Sun systems import reports.

• Process Intra Agency Files on a monthly basis and do corrections or T code adjustments as needed.

• Review Intra Agency charges on a monthly basis, ensuring the accuracy of the charges, consistency and compliance.

• Monitor cost allocation charges done by Country Programs to the regional budgets, ensuring consistency with the APPs and/or seek clarifications from CP Finance Managers.

• Maintain the databases for commitment tracking.

• Archive the documents and vouchers in a logical manner, to be easily located as needed.

APP, Budget Monitoring, Audit Support:

• Assist RFO in the preparation of Asia Regional APP and the review of CPs' APPs, ensuring compliance with agency and regional budgeting guidance.

• Provide financial information to regional staff on regional and outreach projects.

• Prepare Budget Comparison Reports for the regional projects and all outreach countries.

• Run Budget Load Reports, ensuring that CPs BMFs are uploaded correctly.

• Prepare CP Spending Reports and share with RFO for further discussion with CPs.

• Prepare Cost Allocation rates report for the region, and initiate discussion with RFO.

• Support outreach countries with internal and external audit requests, such as supporting documents submission, explanation of the charges, transactions' interpretation.

• Provide any other requested data from CPs SUN systems in Terminal server.

Training, Knowledge sharing and Support

• Assist RFO in providing technical support to the CP team.

• Participate in special ad-hoc assignments received from RFO.

• Per RFO request and under RFO supervision, provide assistance to CPs Finance staff, especially newly hired finance officers in such areas as, SUN and data entry, tools and reports, understanding and interpretation of CRS and Asia regional policies and procedures, etc

• Provide TDY assistance, as needed, during emergencies or as required.

Position Requirements and Qualifications

Professional Qualifications:

• At least two years experience in accounting for international agencies.

• Strong computer skills, particularly Excel, Word and Access.

• Knowledge of CRS finance, accounting, and budgeting policies, procedures and standards preferred.

• Experience with accounting systems required; Sun Systems experience required.

• Good written and spoken English; excellent written and oral communication skills.

Education:

A degree in a respective field such as Accounting or Finance; work experience in a related field.

Personal Competencies:

• Demonstrate strengths in financial accounting with a strong client service focus.

• Skilled in obtaining information necessary to accomplish duties.

• Able to prioritize work, multi-task and meet deadlines.

• Problem analysis and problem resolution at a functional level.

• Strong customer orientation.

• Able to work independently.

• Able to adapt and learn.

• Strong organization and planning skills, detail oriented.

• Maintain confidential information.

Physical Requirements/Environment

Travel is up to 25%. Position requires flexibility and the capacity to deal with ambiguity and change.

Applicants who meet the above criteria and are interested should email their latest resume to include minimum 3 (three) references, to id.humanresource@crs.org not later than December 21, 2011. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview(s).